The new Hasselblad X1D Mark II medium format mirrorless camera is now shipping and all pre-orders will be fulfilled by the end of November. In the US you can check availability and pricing at Adorama and B&H.
Hasselblad released also a new X1D II firmware update with general system improvements and Focus Tethering stability for desktop. You can download the firmware update 1.0.2 here.
This is the "official answer" to the Olympus shutting down their camera business rumor, given by an Olympus representative and reported by Sina Finance:
"The Imaging business has always been the driving force of technology, including imaging technology and mass production technology, and has made tremendous contributions to the Medical and Scientific Solutions businesses. As stated in the new business strategy, since the Imaging business and the Scientific Solutions business are important businesses supporting the group, we will continue to work on improving the profitability and efficiency of these two business segments."
According to the current medium-term management plan, the targets for the group are a 6% CAGR (including external growth) and a 20% operating margin:
"The business plan for the next fiscal year is designed to ensure the development of the Scientific Solutions business and the stability of the Imaging business and to focus on the best market for each product portfolio. Detailed information about these business plans will be made available in the next quarter's earnings report." (sina.com)
This was not really convincing. Olympus did not address the Imaging business directly and kept mentioning it together with the Scientific Solutions business which are two completely different business domains (the Scientific Solutions Division is profitable, the Imaging Division is not):
In another recent press release, Olympus continued to talk about Imaging Business and the Scientific Solutions:
"Focus the corporate portfolio centering on Medical, the company’s key contributor to revenue and profit with the greatest market growth potential. The Imaging and Scientific Solutions divisions remain crucial components to the overall Olympus business, and will strive to improve profitability and operational efficiency." (Olympus)
Note also that Olympus did not directly address or decline the rumors of closing their camera business. Similar rumors circulated also a few months ago (the source was Business Journal Japan):
The Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 FF macro full-frame DSLR lens for Nikon F and Canon EF is officially announced. The US price is $429. Pre-orders are open at Adorama and B&H. Additional information, including MTF charts, can be found here:
Tokina ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 FF macro lens for Nikon F-mount officially announced
Eastman Kodak Company reported their financial results for the third quarter 2019, including a net loss of $5 million on revenues of $315 million and growth in key print and film product areas:
Meyer Optik Görlitz is back with three new (version II) lenses:
"We are currently revising the entire portfolio and are expected to release the first optimized lens at the end of November. This is the Trioplan 100 f2.8 II. The other lenses such as Trioplan 50, Lydith 30 or Primoplan 75 will follow (presumably) in monthly intervals."
Additional information on the new Meyer Optik Görlitz version II lenses:
Tokina is rumored to announce a new ATX-i 100mm f/2.8 FF full-frame DSLR macro lens for Nikon F and Canon EF. The new lens will be a replacement for the current Tokina 100mm f/2.8 AT-X M100 AF Pro D Macro lens and will most likely have the new Opera design like the latest Tokina Opera 16-28mm f/2.8 FF and Tokina Opera 50mm f/1.4 FF lenses.
Update #1 - the lens will start shipping on December 6 with a price of around $500.
Update #2 - here is the leaked press release:
Huntington Beach, CA, November 15, 2019: Kenko Tokina, Japan’s leading manufacturer of premium camera accessories, is releasing the Tokina atx-i 100mm f2.8 Macro FF lens for full-frame DSLR cameras from Nikon and Canon. Distributed in the US exclusively by Kenko Tokina USA, this new lens provides unparalleled versatility with the award-winning optics.
The Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro is a versatile mid-range auto-focus telephoto lens with excellent close focusing capabilities reaching life-sized (1:1) reproduction at 11.8 inches (30cm) from the sensor plane. Engineered for Canon EF and Nikon F mount full-frame DSLR cameras.
At (1:1) reproduction, the lens provides a very comfortable 4.5 inches of working distance between the front of the lens and your subject. The fast f/2.8 aperture makes it easy to focus in low light and renders soft beautiful bokeh. Making it an excellent choice for portraits, landscapes, video, and small world photography.
The Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 Macro is a “flat-field” optical design that suppresses the field-of-view curvature to zero. This means the lens yields excellent edge-to-edge sharpness at all focus distances and apertures. The lens’ multi-coatings render natural color with extremely low light falloff, perfectly controlled chromatic aberration, flare and ghosting.
The One-Touch Focus Clutch Mechanism makes switching from auto-focus to manual focus simple. While in AF mode the user only needs to snap the focus ring back toward the camera to engage “real” manual focus control. This gives photographers an authentic tactile MF feel with hard stops on either side of the focus range like traditional manual lenses. Additionally, the directional rotation of the focus ring matches the direction of proprietary Nikon and Canon lenses.
“This is the second lens offering in the new atx-i series.” says Yuji Matsumoto, President at Kenko Tokina USA. “It combines the award-winning optics of the original ATX model with a sleek new look that matches the cosmetics of today’s advanced DSLR cameras.”
Worldwide sales of the Tokina atx-i 100mm F2.8 FF Macro lens will begin on December 6, 2019 with authorized Tokina USA retailers taking pre-orders November 15, 2019.
Estimated USA Street Price of $429.00
Source: Nokishita, via NikonRumors
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